Christine R. Birnie

Dr. Christine R. Birnie serves as Professor and Dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher University, a position she has held since 2017. As a founding faculty member, she previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a B.S.Pharm. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. With extensive experience as a registered pharmacist in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida, she has shaped pharmacy education through curriculum development and community engagement initiatives.

Dr. Birnie's educational background comprises:

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
• B.S.Pharm., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science

Her research spans pharmaceutics, medical missions, and educational scholarship, with focus on semi-solid dosage forms, compounded product stability, veterinary pharmacy, and refugee healthcare. She pioneered interprofessional service-learning models in underserved communities and has published extensively on pharmacy's role in global health crises. Her scholarship bridges academic theory with practical applications in community pharmacy and international medical missions.

Recent publications (2021-2023) emphasize pharmacy's critical role in public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic and refugee healthcare systems. She explores vaccine access, interprofessional collaboration frameworks, and community-based service models. Earlier works (2013-2018) analyze pharmacy education methodologies, student performance metrics, and technological innovations in compounding instruction, revealing consistent themes of expanding pharmacists' scope in global health equity.

Dr. Birnie's accolades include:

• Teacher of the Year (2006)
• CPFI’s Warren Weaver Service Award (2008)
• St. John Fisher University’s Diversity Innovation Bricoleur Award (2010)
• Fulbright Scholar Award to India (2013)
• Rochester Champion of Pharmacy (2018)
• Woman of Excellence by the Rochester Business Journal (2023)

She precepts fourth-year pharmacy students in international medical missions and community-engaged clinical rotations, having developed the interdisciplinary 'Introduction to Medical Missions' course. Her Fulbright Scholar Award supported significant work in India, and she leads annual medical mission trips while securing community health grants including Fisher's COVID-19 vaccine initiative for underserved populations. She mentors students through layered learning models that integrate pharmacy practice with social justice.

Dr. Birnie co-developed compounding laboratories at Palm Beach Atlantic University and St. John Fisher, establishing applied pharmaceutics curricula. She leads the Wegmans School's medical mission consortium, participating in over 22 global student trips while serving on community boards including St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach, and India Connection. Her teams focus on pharmacist-run immunization clinics and refugee healthcare models that have influenced regional public health policy.